The SAT® at a Glance

Like the ACT, the SAT is a nationally administered, standardized paper-and-pencil test that helps colleges evaluate candidates. All colleges now accept scores from the SAT and ACT interchangably. This means you'll have the opportunity to decide on which test you'll perform better. And in many cases, students prepare for and take both exams. Is the SAT vs. ACT – what's best for you?

Generally, you'll take the SAT for the first time in the spring of your junior year. This allows you enough time to re-take the test during the fall of your senior year if you're not satisfied with your score.

Learning About SAT Sections

The SAT tests your critical thinking skills, as well as your ability to analyze and solve problems in math, critical reading, and writing. Those three, along with an experimental section (which does not count toward your score), make up the four SAT sections. How long is the SAT? The test lasts 3 hours and 50 minutes.

The 25-minute essay will always be the first section you see, and the 10-minute multiple-choice writing section will always be the last. The other SAT sections can appear in any order.

Can be Critical Reading, Math, or Writing. Does not count towards your score

The SAT Critical Reading Section

The SAT Critical Reading component is designed to test skills in vocabulary, reasoning, and reading. The section does this through two distinct question types: Sentence Completions and Reading Comprehension … Learn more.

The SAT Math Section

Many students fear the SAT Math Section more than any other. But there is no reason to feel that way. Just like the other sections, there are proven strategies for approaching the different kinds of math questions. On the test, you'll see two question types: Multiple-Choice and Student Produced Responses (or Grid-Ins) … Learn more.

The SAT Writing Essay

The first section you'll see on the SAT Writing component is the essay—and it counts for one-third of your 800-point Writing score. Your essay and multiple-choice section scores will be combined into a single scaled score that reflects the weight given to each section. This scaled score will then be converted into a final score, ranging from 200-800 points … Learn more.

Your SAT Score

One of the most common questions we get from students and parents is: "What does this score mean?"

The SAT is graded on a 2400-point scale, with the Math, Critical Reading, and Writing sections all being worth 800 points each. It is important to remember that the SAT returns scores on a bell-curve. This means that the median score on each section will always be close to 500 (the midpoint between 200 and 800), with a decreasing frequency of scores down to 200 and up to 800.

Your score report also includes percentile rankings. These let you compare your performance against students across the country. For instance, if you ranked in the 90th percentile on the Math section, you did better than 89 percent of other students, while 10 percent fared better than you … Learn more.

The SAT Critical Reading Section

Length

Question Types

Two 25 Minute SectionsOne 20 Minute Section

19 Sentence Completions48 Reading Comprehension

SAT Sentence Completion Questions

SAT Sentence Completion questions are your friend because they're the fastest question type. You can earn more points in less time because there is no passage to read—just a sentence with one or two blanks that you need to fill-in.

On the SAT, you'll notice that Sentence Completion question sets are arranged in order of difficulty. The first few might be pretty straightforward and manageable. The middle few will be a little harder, and the last few questions will be the most difficult.

SAT Reading Comprehension Questions

There are two kinds of SAT Reading Comprehension passages: short and long. Short passages are approximately 100-150 words long, and are typically followed by two questions. Long passages are approximately 400-850 words long and are typically followed by 8-13 questions.

The passages and questions are predictable. The topics are drawn from the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and fiction. The questions drill you about the overall tone and content of the passage, the details used, and what the author's overall meaning may be. You will also have one or more paired passage question sets consisting of two related excerpts. Those questions ask you to compare and contrast the two passages.

The SAT Math Section

Length

Question Types

Two 25 Minute SectionsOne 10 Minute Section

44 Multiple-Choice 10 Student Produced Responses (Grid-Ins)

Questions are arranged to gradually increase in difficulty, focusing on the topics of numbers and operations, Algebra I, Algebra II, functions, Geometry, as well as Statistics, Probability, and Data Analysis.

SAT Math Multiple-Choice Questions

On the SAT Multiple-Choice questions in the Math Section, you'll be give five answers from which you'll need to choose the best one. It's pretty straightforward; but one way to save time is to memorize the directions:

Directions: For this section, solve each problem and decide which is the best of the choices given. Fill in the corresponding oval on the answer sheet. You may use any available space for scratchwork.

SAT Math Grid-In Questions

The Grid-In section is more like the math tests you're used to taking at school. Rather than choosing your answer from five choices, you have to work through the problem and write whatever answer you came up with in the grid boxes on the answer sheet. Some Grid-in questions only have one correct answer, whereas others have several correct answers. There is no penalty for wrong answers on this section.

Take an SAT Math Quiz
How will you do? Take our SAT Math Quiz and find out.

The SAT writing Section

The first section you'll see on the SAT Writing component is the essay—and it counts for one-third of your 800-point Writing score. Your essay and multiple-choice section scores will be combined into a single scaled score that reflects the weight given to each section. This scaled score will then be converted into a final score, ranging from 200-800 points.

The SAT Writing Essay

For the essay portion of the SAT, your task is to write a short, persuasive essay on an assigned topic. The word, persuasive, is key. You can write a compelling essay on a meaningful experience, but if you have not offered good reasons to see things from a particular point of view, you won't score well.

Your essay will be scored quickly and holistically by two readers. Holistically means your essay gets a single score—a number—that indicates its overall quality. Each reader will assign your essay a score ranging from a high of 6 to a low of 1. These two scores are added together to get a total score ranging from a high of 12 to a low of 2. The only way to receive a 0 if your essay is illegible, off topic, or blank.

The Identifying Sentence Errors and Improving Sentences questions are based on single, unrelated sentences on a variety of topics. The Improving Paragraph questions are based on a brief passage.

In terms of scoring, if you get a multiple-choice question right, you earn 1 point. If you get it wrong, you lose ¼ of a point. If you omit the question, you neither gain nor lose any points.

Take an SAT Writing Quiz
How will you do? Take our SAT Writing Quiz and find out.

Your SAT Score

The SAT Writing Section

Keep in mind that not all schools use the Writing section in the same way. Some elite schools that have traditionally required the SAT Writing Subject Test are using the SAT Writing section as a formal piece of the admissions process.

Other schools have indicated that they will look at Writing section scores, but that they will not give them much, if any, consideration. These schools are primarily trying to get an understanding of the scores in conjunction with applications.

A third group of schools is still on the fence and is waiting for more information to become available before making a decision.

As you refine your target school list based on your scores, you should ask schools how they will be using your Writing score.

Receiving Your SAT Score

You can usually expect to find your SAT scores online 2-3 weeks after your Test Day.

The College Board offers a full listing of score availability dates. On the College Board site, you'll also find:

Your raw score and 200-800 point scaled score for the Math, Critical Reading, and Writing sections.

Your 0-12 essay sub-score.

Information about your responses including questions that you answered right, answered wrong, or omitted.

Your estimated percentile rank for college-bound seniors based on the test you took. (Note: Your percentile rank will help you understand how you scored in comparison to other test takers.)

A printable copy of your essay.

This information will also be sent to your home about 4-6 weeks after your Test Day so that you have an official score report. You can also use the College Board site and your official score report to confirm the colleges to which you sent your scores.

What's a Good SAT Score?

Test Section

Average Score for the Class of 2008

Writing

494

Critical Reading

502

Math

515

Essay

7.2 (out of 12)

Taking the SAT More Than Once

If you got your dream score, congratulations! You can now get to work on your SAT Subject Tests, AP exams, and College Admissions. If you're not happy with your score, don't despair. Keep in mind that most students take the SAT more than once, and some even take it three times! Use the information in your score report to help you understand your strengths and weaknesses and to hone your preparation for your next SAT.

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AP®, Advanced Placement Program® or Pre-AP® is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product. SAT® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. PSAT/NMSQT® is a registered trademark of the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation which were not involved in the production of, and do not endorse, this product.*95% claim based on thousands of responses each year to an annual survey about Kaplan students who were admitted to college as of May 2012, May 2013 and May 2014. Prior results are not a guarantee of admission outcomes for future students or for any individual student.†Higher Score Guarantee: Conditions and restrictions apply, for complete guarantee eligibility requirements, visit kaptest.com/hsg

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